I agree Gus, I was sure that it must be something running in the background - but as I say, I run only FS9 and associated addons on this machine - not even any antivirus (I only start that up manually as and when necessary).This is a screenshot of Task manager. I tried closing down all the FS addon programmes, ASv6, S-Combo etc., but shutting then down doesn't affect the stuttering. (There is only one user on this PC BTW, so checking the All Users box adds nothing to the list).Martin

Well it seems you have quite a few other programs running besides add-ons. For comparison, when I'm ready to start FS and add-ons, I have 20 processes running using up about 172mb of memory (this is without loading add-ons). With a few add-ons loaded, it goes up to 24 and about 250mb. This is using XP Pro. I have a dual boot set up divdied into gaming/other use. So my gaming OS has nothing extra loaded with many services disabled. you may want to look into closing down all non-essential services and programs, see if it helps.

Martin I agree with Red. 38 is a pretty high number of processes running especially @ 2.2Ghz. Also, just curious, what are the 2 CMD.exe doing? One aspect no one has touched on, and this just just a long shot, what kind of cloud textures are you using? Since you are running Active Sky you might check in the AS Graphics/ options to see what size and quality textures are being used and if necessary reduce the quality a bit. As I said this is long shot, but may help narrow done the possible cause(s).I hope you get this problem worked out!Regards, MelBTW: ASUS Striker II Extreme, liquid cooled;Core2 Extreme X9650 @ 3.83Ghz; GTX 280 1024 GPU; 2G ram;Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatality Pro; Western Digital V'Raptor x2 in Raid0 stripe 558.92 Gig; Samsung Syncmaster @1680 x 1050 60Hz refresh rate and 28 running processes

Hi Martin,I see you are using Saitek software, so I asume you also use some of their hardware.In connection with this I suggest that you check one possible source of your problem as follows:For some reason a faulty setting in FSUIPC can occur when using Saitek software. This may lead to some phantom key press resulting in bad performance and/or stuttering. I'm sure you know of this phantom keypress issue through Saitek forum and that you have made the right things to avoid what is described there.So have I, however, I experienced stuttering and bad performance in addition to that specific problem. What I did was to move the FSUIPC ini file away from the Module folder thus letting FSUIPC create a new one when re-starting the FS9. That helped. I can't recall exactly what I found; to do so I will have to see if I kept some notes about this issue. I suggest you just do this simple thing at least to uncheck this as a possible source.Furthermore; later on I got a new problem with stuttering. This time I found that faulty programming of the Saitek profiler (SST-programme) was the reason.Do you use the SST-programme of Saitek ? If so can you relate the start of your problem to the time you made a new or edited any profile(s)?In my case I got rid of the stuttering and the performance became OK again.(Now everything works well for me except for the new WILCO 737 PIC - this product is for me a truly catastrophy as regards stuttering and low performance.)Carl

download filemon from microsoft and run it along w/ fs. if fs is looking for a file and it's missing, it could cause stuttering. especially if xxx.fx files are missing or trying to access non-existane xxx.fx files.

Hi. Thanks for the replies.I have, as I say, tried looking for problems with Process Monitor (which is basically a more up to date version of filemon) and there are no missing files reported - quite a number of missing registry entries, but that seems par for the course and, having browsed extensively on this, it seems that missing registry entries will not affect performance in any way.I have also tried running FS9 without all the addons (and things like MGrab, which just takes multiple screenshots) loaded - the Task manager just shows FS9.exe and system processes. That didn't do a thing to stop the stuttering. (With AS6 off and FS9 'Clear Skies' - no change).I do get issues sometimes with the Saitek, so I'll have another look at that - although before I posted here I did try running FS9 without the X52 joystick plugged in (and the FS9 profile therefore not loaded into memory); again, no change from the stuttering.The 2 CMD processes are my own batch files which load atc chatter of my choice and change the language of the cabin announcements. They make no impact on the sim - certainly when I don't load them before FS9 there is no difference to the stuttering.What is really odd to me is that I can go a few days with really quite nice smooth flights and taxiing, then the stutters come back. I was sure I'd find something in filemon/Process Monitor, but as I say, nothing shows, either re. missing files (which is more likely to cause progressive memory drain than 'chronic' juddering I'd have thought) or with processes suddenly taking up CPU time. All very frustrating.Thanks again. I'll post back soon with any results.Martin

Well just to back this up...I also have the X52 and when I first got it I tried installing the software. When I went to go play fs9, it resulted in horrible stutters. I immediately uninstalled the software completely and stutters disappeared. I have never tried to reinstall it again so I can't 100% confirm it.

Next time I get stuttering I'll disconnect the X52 and stop the process AsiMfd.exe - see if that helps. I'm sort of hoping it won't, 'cos I can't see how I'm going to enjoy flying without my X52!!M. :-)

Hello

Well just to back this up...I also have the X52 and when I first got it I tried installing the software. When I went to go play fs9, it resulted in horrible stutters. I immediately uninstalled the software completely and stutters disappeared. I have never tried to reinstall it again so I can't 100% confirm

I use the X52 Pro (bought it two days after his availability ... so it's times ago!)I use (and never upgraded) the drivers and SST software from the CD furnished with the HOTAS.Never got any probs so far in any simulations using the X52 Pro.I used also the X52 and X45 and X36 :) (and also used the drivers and SST soft from the CD) and never got problemsOS used : WinXP SP1a - WinXP Sp2 - WinXP SP3Regards.Gus.

Martin- 4 or 5 yrs ago I experienced "chattering" when taxiing- particularly when the aircraft swung around rapidly at pushback and during taxiway turns.After increasing RAM to 2.0 GB and setting Virtual Memory to "Let System Manage" I haven't seen the problem.Alex Reid

I have tried 'system managed' VM before; could try again. Anything's worth a go. On the other hand the past few days I've had no problems at all. Just flying YBRK to YBBN as I write this (on my other machine!), with VOZ 1.8 and a PMDG 737-800 and everything has been as smooth as anyone could ever wish. All very odd..M.

Next time I get stuttering I'll disconnect the X52 and stop the process AsiMfd.exe - see if that helps. I'm sort of hoping it won't, 'cos I can't see how I'm going to enjoy flying without my X52!!M. :-)

I have the x52 and have never installed drivers or the software. Works just fine, just can't program a profile for that 3 way switch.

Yes, I disconnected the X52 and stopped processes from Saitek with Task manager, but no change.I also closed down every process I could find in TM, apart from FS9 (of course) and those that would crash Windows if stopped. Still the same stuttering - and yet for 2 days everything had been silky smooth. I think this is sadly going to be insoluble..M.

Yea, this one is tough. Not sure how committed you are to your current install of windows, but at this time, I would just reformat the drive completely and start over...first loading only the essentials for windows and then adding FS one by one and testing along the way.

Yes, I thought of that, the stuttering is really spoiling flights most days now and I don't see I am going to find the cause - I reinstalled audio drivers today but that hasn't helped.My FS9 is so highly tweaked, reinstalling is a bit of a nightmare - even though I have the whole setup backed up on an external drive. Reinstalling programmes which need a new key is a pain, especially when some manufacturers don't like to reply. I back up the registry too, maybe I can write registry keys back to a new setup to keep old software passwords.I do have FSX installed on the same machine (in a different partition and as a different user account) but rarely use it. The frame rates aren't good unless I crank the settings down - and then my FS9 looks much nicer. I can use it though to test if I get the same stuttering in FSX - first I have to find the right settings in FSX to make it an equitable test, but I'll give it a go. I'll leave it a bit longer and think about it some more before I wipe the drive and start again though! I'm going abroad for a week on Wednesday, so I'll think on it..Martin